Jennies Back In the Multi This Week

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Jan. 20, 2021) - Central Missouri Jennies Basketball starts a four-game homestand this week against two Sooner State schools.

Opponents
Northeastern State (3-7, 3-7 MIAA)
Rogers State (2-7 MIAA)

Where
Warrensburg, Mo. - UCM Multipurpose Building

When
Thursday, Jan. 21 - 5:30 p.m. vs. Northeastern State
Saturday, Jan. 23 - 1 p.m. vs. Rogers State

Fan Information
• The UCM Multipurpose Building is limited to 25% capacity. Fans are strongly encourage to purchase their tickets in advance at the link above.
• Face masks are required at all times while on the UCM campus. 
• Fans are strongly encouraged to socially distance themselves when seated and only sit with the group they entered the facility with.
• Restrooms and east-end concessions will be open, but fans are asked not to congregate in hallways or the lobby. 
• There will be no reserved seating for visiting fans behind the visiting bench. 

On the Air
• Home games will be broadcast on 1450 KOKO, 98.5 The Bar and now the all new 107.9 fm. You can also stream online at warrensburgradio.com with Greg Hassler calling the action. 
• All games will also be webcast online through the MIAA's Blue Frame portal at http://www.themiaanetwork.com/ucmmules/. 
• Links to live stats and live video can also be found at ucmathletics.com. 

Tip-Off
• Central Missouri got back in the win column after two straight losses with a 58-52 win at Newman. The win puts UCM at 8-2 on the season. 
• UCM returns home to the Multi for the start of a four-game homestand, their longest of the season. First up are a pair of Oklahoma schools, Northeastern State and Rogers State. 

Storylines
• The Jennies are undefeated against Northeastern State since they entered the league in 2013. UCM is 9-0 and 3-0 at home. Of their nine wins, seven have been by more than 10 points including four of the last five. 
• The Jennies and Rogers State met last year for the first time since 1974. The Jennies won their 1,000th game as a program against the Hillcats 86-44 and hold a 2-1 lifetime edge against Rogers State. The loss coming in 1973.

Last Time Out
• The Jennies went on the road and had a pair of tough games, losing their first last week 70-66 at Central Oklahoma before coming back for a 58-52 win at Newman. 

Previously vs. Northeastern State/Rogers State
• On the road the Jennies picked up program win No. 1,000 against Rogers State 86-44. Ten different Jennies scored a point led by Megan Skaggs' 30 and Nija Collier's double-double. 
• Morgan VanHyfte scored a career-high 14 points against the RiverHawks last season which was also her 200th career point. Nija Collier picked up another double-double as the Jennies rolled to a 73-64 win. 

Jennies in the Rankings
• There won't be a WBCA poll for the 2020-21 season until later in January. 
• In the second D2SIDA regular season poll, the Jennies are ranked 22nd, falling eight spots from last week.
• The defending MIAA Champion Jennies were picked to finish third this year by the league's coaches. They did receive three first-place votes. 

Individual Milestones
• Olivia Nelson needs just two points for 100. 
• Gigi McAtee needs just one point to get to 200.
• Morgan VanHyfte needs one more assist to get to 100 and six rebounds for 250. 

Fab 7
• UCM has seven freshmen for the 2020-21 season, their most since welcoming five in 2015. All seven have played and through six games have scored 65% of the team's total points. Four of the Jennies top-five scorers are freshman with Brooke Littrell having scored 122, Graycen Holden 117, Olivia Nelson 98 and Charley Bovaird 71. 

Sloppy Play
• Turnovers have been a major part of the Jennies games of late. The good news is they've forced 20+ turnovers in four straight games including a season-high 24 from Newman in their last game. The bad news is the Jennies have coughed it up 21 times in each of their last two games, a season-high.

Back-to-Back Losses
• With UCM dropping back-to-back games against Nebraska-Kearney and Central Oklahoma it was the first time since Feb. 2016 that UCM has lost two straight, including postseason. That streak spanned 140 consecutive games without losing two straight. 

Schedule Notes
• The Jennies game at Emporia State originally scheduled for Saturday, December 19 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m.

Scouting the Opposition
Northeastern State (3-7, 3-7 MIAA)
• Northeastern State started the year 2-0 with wins over Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western. Since, they've dropped seven of eight with their only win coming over Newman. On the road this season, the RiverHawks are 0-5.
• Defense has been an issue for the RiverHawks as they allow 68.5 points per game and are allowing teams to shoot 46% from the floor, next to last in the MIAA. 
• The RiverHawks are also towards the bottom of the league in rebounding with a -3 margin for the season.
• Three RiverHawks are in double-figure scoring. Zaria Collins leads the team and is fourth in the MIAA scoring 18 points per game. She scores mostly underneath having made just one three-pointer. 
• Cenia Hayes is seventh in the league scoring 16 points per game. She's knocked in a team-best 13 three-pointers and has 43 free throws.
• At +2.30 turnovers per game, the RiverHawks are third in the MIAA in turnover margin.
Player to Watch
#14 Cenia Hayes (5-9, G, Sr., Tahlequah, Okla.) - 16 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.4 apg

Rogers State Hillcats (2-7, 2-7 MIAA)
• Rogers State typically doesn't have issues scoring, averaging 65.2 points per game. They are next to last though in the MIAA in scoring defense giving up 76.6 points per game.
• The Hillcats are shooting 40.4% from the floor and 30.8% from three, both in the MIAA of the pack in the MIAA. 
• Rogers though is -6.9 in the rebounding department and last in the league with a -3.56 turnover margin.
• Samariah Thompson is one of three players in the MIAA averaging 20 points per game. She's scoring 20.6 which is third in the league. Her 50 made free throws are tops in the MIAA.
• Behind Thompson, Maya Buckhanon is scoring 14.8 points per game. She's gotten most of her points in the post with just one made three-pointer this season.
• The Hillcats don't alter many shots, but when they do get a piece, it usually comes from Shay Stone who is third in the MIAA with 1.6 blocks per game. 
Player to Watch
#2 Samariah Thompson (5-6, G, Jr., Dyersburg, Tenn. ) - 20.6 ppg, 5 20+ point games, 5.1 rpg